US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship? Analyzing the Truth and International Law Disputes

Recently, a report that a US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka has sparked international attention. According to Al Jazeera, the incident occurred approximately 40 nautical miles from Galle Port in Sri Lanka, outside the country's 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, within its exclusive economic zone or in international waters. The Sri Lankan Navy confirmed its participation in search and rescue operations and emphasized that it is still investigating the incident, urging against premature conclusions.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth publicly stated that this was the first time since World War II that the United States had used a torpedo to sink an enemy surface combatant, characterizing it as an "unprecedented" military operation. However, the Iranian government has not yet issued a formal statement on the matter, and the United Nations has consistently called for de-escalation of regional tensions to avoid further escalation.

From an international law perspective, if the US claims that its action constitutes self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, it must prove that the Iranian warship was carrying out or about to launch an armed attack, and that the US response was necessary and proportionate. Currently, limited public information makes it difficult to determine whether the action fully complies with relevant standards of international law of the sea and the law of armed conflict. This incident not only affects geopolitical nerves but also raises widespread discussions about the legality and transparency of maritime military operations. In the absence of authoritative evidence and official responses from multiple parties, the true background and motives of the incident remain to be further clarified.